CRITICAL NOTES.— PROVERBS 13:1. INSTRUCTION, or “correction.” The Hebrew is literally, “a wise son _is_ his father’s correction,” _i.e._, is the product of his father’s correction; or “heareth” may be supplied to correspond to the verb in the second clause. _MAIN HOMILETICS OF Proverbs 13:1_ THE... [ Continue Reading ]
CRITICAL NOTES.— PROVERBS 13:2. SHALL EAT, in the second clause, is supplied by the English translation. Many commentators render this clause “the delight of the ungodly is violence.” So Zöckler and Delitzsch. Miller translates the verse, “Out of the fair earnings of the mouth of a man a good man w... [ Continue Reading ]
CRITICAL NOTES.— PROVERBS 13:4. FAT, _i.e._, abundantly satisfied. _MAIN HOMILETICS OF Proverbs 13:4_ THE DISAPPOINTMENT OF THE SLUGGARD’S DESIRES I, THE DESIRES OF THE SLUGGARD CANNOT BE SATISFIED— 1. _Because they are contrary to the ordination of God_. The Divine ordination is, “In the sweat... [ Continue Reading ]
CRITICAL NOTES.— PROVERBS 13:5. LYING, rather “deceit.” Stuart renders it “a false report.” Zöckler translates the latter clause of this verse, “the ungodly acteth basely and shamefully.” The translations of Stuart and Delitzsch are nearly the same. Miller reads the whole verse, “A deceiving busine... [ Continue Reading ]
CRITICAL NOTES.— PROVERBS 13:6. SINNER, literally “sin,” hence Miller reads “wickedness subverts the sin-offering,” and Zöckler “wickedness plungeth into sin.” MAIN HOMILETICS OF Proverbs 13:6 OVERTHROW BY SIN For Homiletics on the first clause of this verse see on chap. Proverbs 11:3; Proverbs... [ Continue Reading ]
CRITICAL NOTES.— PROVERBS 13:7. MAKETH, or “showeth.” PROVERBS 13:8. The latter clause of this is very obscure, but _rebuke_ is generally translated “threatening,” and is understood to mean that no threatening can gain anything from the poor as they have nothing to lose. Stuart understands it that... [ Continue Reading ]
CRITICAL NOTES.— PROVERBS 13:9. REJOICETH, “burns brightly.” The words _light and lamp_ are regarded by most modern commentators as synonymous. _MAIN HOMILETICS OF Proverbs 13:9_ THE ABIDING LIGHT I. THE ANALOGY BETWEEN THE RIGHTEOUS AND THE WICKED. Both have a light or lamp. The words here trans... [ Continue Reading ]
CRITICAL NOTES.— PROVERBS 13:10. This may be read “Only by pride cometh contention,” or “by pride cometh only (nothing but) contention.” _MAIN HOMILETICS OF Proverbs 13:10_ THE PARENT OF STRIFE I. UNLAWFUL CONTENTION IS THE OFFSPRING OF PRIDE. If she is not her _only_ child, she is her eldest-bor... [ Continue Reading ]
CRITICAL NOTES.— PROVERBS 13:11. VANITY, rather “fraud.” BY LABOUR, literally “by the hand.” or “handful after handful.” _MAIN HOMILETICS OF Proverbs 13:11_ TWO WAYS OF GROWING RICH I. WEALTH CAN BE GOTTEN. Wealth may be acquired by those who have it not. The wealth of the sea is within the reach... [ Continue Reading ]
CRITICAL NOTES.— PROVERBS 13:12. Latter clause, “a desire accomplished is a tree of life.” _MAIN HOMILETICS OF Proverbs 13:12_ DEFERRED AND ACCOMPLISHED HOPE I. TWO THINGS ARE NECESSARY TO CONSTITUTE HOPE. 1. _There is the desire for the real or supposed good_. The man conceives there is in the... [ Continue Reading ]
CRITICAL NOTES.— PROVERBS 13:13. SHALL BE DESTROYED, rather “is bound,” or “is in bonds to it.” REWARDED, “be at peace.” _MAIN HOMILETICS OF Proverbs 13:13_ BOUND BY LAW The literal translation of the first clause of this verse is “Whoso despiseth the law is bound by it,” or “is in bonds to it”... [ Continue Reading ]
CRITICAL NOTES.— PROVERBS 13:14. LAW, rather “doctrine,” “instruction.” _MAIN HOMILETICS OF Proverbs 13:14_ LIVING BY RULE I. THE WISE MAN LIVES BY RULE OR ACCORDING TO LAW. “The law of the wise.” Wherever there is any _force_ or _power_ there must be rule, or there will be destruction _from_ the... [ Continue Reading ]
CRITICAL NOTES.— PROVERBS 13:15. GOOD UNDERSTANDING, rather “discretion.” HARD, “stony,” “uncultivated.” This is the generally received rendering, but the word often signifies “perpetual.” Miller says “We find it in thirteen places, and in every one of them it means perpetual. “_Strong_ or _perpetu... [ Continue Reading ]
CRITICAL NOTES.— PROVERBS 13:16. DEALETH WITH KNOWLEDGE, _i.e._ acteth with foresight. LAYETH open, rather “spreadeth abroad.” Delitzsch Says, “There lies in the word something derisive; as the merchant unrolls and spreads out his wares in order to commend them, so the fool deals with his folly.”... [ Continue Reading ]
_MAIN HOMILETICS OF Proverbs 13:17_ A SOCIAL LINK I. AN IMPORTANT LINK IN HUMAN SOCIETY—A MESSENGER. This link may or may not be important _in himself_. He may belong to the highest or to the lowest stratum of human life. He may be a princely ambassador, or he may be a telegraph boy. The link which... [ Continue Reading ]
_MAIN HOMILETICS OF Proverbs 13:18_ THE WAY TO HONOUR I. MAN NEEDS INSTRUCTION BECAUSE HIS NATURAL INTUITIONS ARE NOT ENOUGH TO MEET THE NEEDS OF HUMAN LIFE. The instinct of the animal is enough to enable it to fulfil its destiny. Its limited powers find sufficient guidance in the use of the facul... [ Continue Reading ]
CRITICAL NOTES.— PROVERBS 13:19. Literally “quickened desire,” “a desire that has come to be.” Zöckler and Miller say this cannot be designed to express appeased desire,” but Delitzsch renders it “satisfied desire,” and Stuart agrees with him. The latter connects the second clause of the verse with... [ Continue Reading ]
_MAIN HOMILETICS OF Proverbs 13:20_ COMPANIONSHIP, CONSTRUCTIVE OR DESTRUCTIVE We have here:— I. HABIT, ASSIMILATION, AND TRANSFORMATION. 1. _Habit_. A habit is formed by the constant repetition of an act. Walking is the constant repetition of an act. The child first gets courage to take a single... [ Continue Reading ]
_MAIN HOMILETICS OF Proverbs 13:21_ PURSUIT AND REPAYMENT I. EVIL PURSUES SINNERS BECAUSE SINNERS PURSUE EVIL. The huntsman who pursues the hare in the direction of a precipice is pursuing a course which, if continued, must be followed by evil. It is an evil thing for him to follow such a trifle at... [ Continue Reading ]
_MAIN HOMILETICS OF Proverbs 13:22_ AS INHERITANCE INCORRUPTIBLE I. A GOOD MAN HAS ALWAYS SPIRITUAL INHERITANCE TO LEAVE HIS CHILDREN. He has always his own holy character and example. And this is often of great service to them in a material point of view. Men who have obtained fame in the world le... [ Continue Reading ]
CRITICAL NOTES.— PROVERBS 13:23. “Tillage,” rather “fallow ground” or “a new field,” land which requires hard labour. _MAIN HOMILETICS OF Proverbs 13:23_ LAND AND ITS TILLERS I. THAT UNTILLED LAND (see Critical Notes) POSSESSES A LATENT POWER TO PRODUCE FOOD. There are many things in nature in wh... [ Continue Reading ]
_MAIN HOMILETICS OF Proverbs 13:24_ THE CHILD AND THE ROD I. PAIN IS A NECESSARY INSTRUMENT IN HUMAN TRAINING. The rod is to be included in the means of education. Some natures need an experience of pain to quicken their _mental_ capabilities. Sometimes children are like untilled land (see Proverbs... [ Continue Reading ]
_MAIN HOMILETICS OF Proverbs 13:25_ WANT AND SATISFACTION I. THE LIMITED TRUTH OF THE ASSERTION IN RELATION BOTH TO THE RIGHTEOUS AND THE WICKED. Read in the light of personal experience, and in the light of history, it is found _true_, and is found _not true_ in the case of the righteous. Elijah _... [ Continue Reading ]